Can opener



E. sTRoYvoNss, SR 2,786,269

I March 26, 1957 CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Shget 1 Filed April 18, 1956 IIIIIIIII Fig.4

Edward $/royv0nss,$r. l2 INVENTOR;

March 26, 1957 E. sTRbwoN s, SR 2,786,269

CAN OPENER Filed April 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

V" J l V 52 Ma 79 e v 8 J a 64 62% I I I l l 70 as 28 75 a/ so 69 as Z? I Edward .Sfroyvonss,$r. -Fig. 9 5 4. I INVENTOR.

Q 43 BY 3 V III I [A i i Attorney:

United States Patent CAN OPENER Edward Stroyvonss, Sr., Algonac, Mich.

Application April 18, 1956, Serial No. 579,104

6 Claims. (Cl. 30-11) This invention relates to improvements in can openers of the type which are adapted to accommodate and open cans which vary in size throughout a Wide range.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved can opener of the stationary type which is strong, sturdy, and which is very easy to use, the latter being preferably, but not exclusively, arranged with a cabinet type base so that there is not only storage space available but also additional work space alongside of the can opening mechanism for the convenience of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination of elements which support cans of varying sizes insofar as diameter is concerned and which is capable of removing the top from the can regardless of the height thereof within practical limits.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the upstanding support to hold the can opening knife and to adjust it to the vertical height desired;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail construction in the adjustable support of Figure 2;

I Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the cutter;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view in enlarged scale and taken on the line 77 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 88 of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8.

In the practice of the invention there is a can opener 10 made on a base 12, the latter being preferably a cabinet that has sides, a bottom and a front. The front may be provided with access to the interior of the cabinet, for example by means of a door 14 and/or a drawer 16. These are merely exemplary of various arrangements for using the storage space, the particular arrangement adopted being left within the prerogative of the manufacturer. A work space is formed on the table top 18 adjacent to the table 20, the latter being elevated slightly from work space 18 and being provided with three slots 22, 24 and 26 respectively. In arrangements where the base 12 is made of a thin metal shell, a structural framework is on the interior thereof. This structural framework may be made of wood or metal depending upon the nature of the machine, the expense allocated for the construction of the machine and similar factors. In either case there is a horizontal platform 28 attached to the front and rear walls of the base and it supports three tracks, 30, 32 and 34 respectively. Each track is formed by two rails that are held parallel to each other and spaced apart. These rails are preferably formed by angle brackets that are screwed or otherwise rigidly connected to the horizontal platform 28. For the track 30 there are rails 35 and 36 made from angle brackets 37 and 38. For the track 32 there are rails 40 and 41 made from angle brackets 42 and 43. Similarly, for track 34 there are rails 45 and 46 made from upstanding angle brackets 47 and 48. The longitudinal axes of the tracks 30, 32 and 34 are parallel respectively to the slots 26, 22 and 24. Slides 48, 50 and 52 respectively are mounted for movement in the tracks 30, 32 and 34. They have upstanding jaws 54, 56 and 58 which pass through slots 26, 22 and 24 and which have confronting cam contacting surfaces. The slides have outwardly opening grooves, for example grooves 58 and 59 in slide 50 (Figure 9) in which strips 60 and 61 are mounted for sliding movement. These strips are on the confronting faces of the angle brackets 42 and 43 and coact with the confronting surfaces of the angle brackets in forming the rails 40 and 41. An identical type of arrangement is used for the slides 48 and 52 and tracks 30 and 34 in which the slides are movable. Therefore each of the slides is constrained in its movement to longitudinal within the tracks that accommodate it. The result is that the jaws 54, 56 and 58 are movable toward and away from the can that is located between them.

The means for actuating the jaws are seen best in Figures 7 and 8. They consist of three screws 64, 65 and 66 which pass through threaded passageways in the three slides 48, 50 and 52. Screws 64 and 66 are on a common shaft 68, the latter being mounted for rotation in bearings 69 and 70 that are secured to the horizontal platform 28. Scnew 65 is on shaft 73, the latter being mounted for rotation in bearings 74 and 75 that are secured to horizontal platform 28. Shaft 68 is extended through an opening in the side of base 12 and has a handle 78 connected therewith by any suitable means, for example by a set screw 79 that is carried by a part of the handle and that bears on the outer end of shaft 68. A pair of enmeshed bevel gears 80 and 81 are fixed to the shafts 68 and 73 so that upon rotation of handle 78 all of the screws are rotated simultaneously and at the same speed, assuming that the gears 80 and 81 have the same number of teeth thereon. This actuates all of the slides, thereby actuating all of the jaws to clamp and hold a can therebetween. The friction between the slides, gears and screws form a lock in order to hold the can in place very firmly.

A shelf is at the back of table 20 and provides additional space on which to place articles. At the center of this shelf there is an opening 92 through whichv-ertically adjustable support 94 rises. This support includes a plate 96 that is vertically slidable in track 98, the latter having rails 99 and 100 formed along the confronting edges of panels 102 and 104. These panels are secured to the back of base 12 by any suitable means to serve this purpose. The rails 98 and 100 are fitted in slots 106 and 108 along the outer edges of plate 96 so that the upward or downward movement of the plate 96 is accomplished smoothly and even when extended fully the plate 96 is still sturdily held in place.

The means for elevating and lowering the support are seen best in Figure 2 and consist of a shaft 107 mounted for rotation in bearings 109 and 110 on the back of the support. Handle 112 is secured to the outer end of shaft 107 for convenience in manually rotating the shaft in either direction. Enmeshed gears 114 and 116 are fixed to shaft 107 and screw 118, the latter being rotatably mounted in bearings 120 and 122. The latter bearings are on strips 124 and 126 that extend across the track 98 and that are secured to the members that form the track so as to help maintain them in a fixed position. A captive nut 130 is on screw 118 so that as the screw is rotated the nut travels up or down the screw depending on the direction of rotation of screw 113. This nut has a mounting bracket 132 fixed to it, the latter being attached to plate 96. Accordingly, upon rotation of handle 112, the plate 96 is elevated or lowered depending upon the direction of rotation of the handle. This is accomplished through the rotation of shaft 107 and screw 11% and by the presence of captive nut 130 that is attached to the plate 96 and mounted on the screw 118.

A cutter 140 is carried by a right angular cantilever 142 at the upper end of plate Q6. The cutter consists of a handle 144 that is attached to a .spingle 146, the latter passing through an opening in the end of cantilever 142. Beam 148 protrudes laterally from spindle 146 and has a non-circular collar ft mounted thereon. This collar is slidable from end to end of beam 148 and is held in a selected, adjusted position by set screw 152 carried by the collar and arranged to come into frictional contact with beam 148. Recess 154 extends longitudinally down the bore of collar 150 and is adapted to accommodate the shank 156 of a knife 158'. The knife shank has a stop 16!) 'at its opposite end, the latter overlying a part of the edge of collar 150.

Means to press against the rim or edge of the can near the top of it as the top is being severed from the can are attached to collar 150. These means consist of a plunger 162 that has a shank 1.63 slidable in aligned openings 164 and 165 in skirt 166 of collar 150. Head 168 of the plunger 162 has an outer surface which normally rests on the inner surface of knife 158. A spring 171 reacts on a part of the skirt, being seated thereon and on a pin 172 that is fixed to the shank 163 of the plunger 162. This spring normally, yieldingly presses the plunger in such direction that head 168 comes to rest upon a surface of knife 158.. When a can edge is fitted in the can opener to be cut, the rim thereof is located between the head 168 and the cutter 158.

The operation of the can opener includes the steps of placing a can between the jaws 22, 24 and and then winding the handle 76 in order to bring the jaws tightly against the can. Then, when it is necessary the vertically adjustable support is lowered by rotating the handle 112. Knife 158 is brought down to pierce the top of the can with the edge of the can being between the knife 158 and the head 1&6 of the plunger 162. Where necessary by virtue of the diameter of the can, the collar 150 would first be adjusted on its beam 148. After piercing the can, handle 144 is rotated in order to move the beam 148 in a circular manner and thereby move the. cutter in such direction as to completely sever the top of the can from the remainder of it. Thereafter, the reverse procedurg for the jaws and support is followed and the can remived from the table 20.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A can opener comprising a base that has a generally horizontal table provided with slots, adjustable jaws carried by said base and protruding through the slots in said table to embrace the lower end of a can, a vertically extensible support connected to said base, mechanical means to adjust said support in accordance with the height of can to be opened and to force said support downward, a can top cutter carried by said support, said cutter including a knife, a beam on which said knife is mounted, movable means juxtaposed with said knife to press against the edge of the can. while the knife is being moved in its can top severing operation, said knife having a shank, a collar on said beam supporting said shank, and means to hold said collar in selected positions on said beam.

2. The can opener of claim 1 wherein said movable means includes a spring biased plunger carried by said beam.

3. The can opener of claim 1 wherein said mechanical means including a hand operated crank, and means drivingly connecting said crank to said support.

4. In a can opener that has a base provided with a plurality of jaws, a plurality of tracks carried by said base, slides in said tracks on which said jaws are fixed, means for adjusting said jaws and including screws operatively connected to said slides, an extensible support connected with said base, means for extending and retracting said support, a cutter carried by said adjustable support, means for actuating said cutter in order to sever the top of a can that is held in said jaws, said cutter including a knife, spring loaded means for contacting the can that is being cut and located adjacent to said cutter, and means for mounting said cutter and said spring loaded means in a selected, adjusted position.

5. The can opener of claim 4 wherein said mounting means includes a collar, a locking device carried by said collar, a beam on which said collar is mounted for movement and with which said locking device is operable, a spindle to which said beam is fixed, and means for rotating said spindle.

6. A can opener comprising a base, jaws to hold the can carried by said base, means for adjusting said jaws, an extensible support arranged to move at right angles to the movement of said jaws, a cutter, means carried by said extensible support for supporting said cutter and for rotating the latter in juxtaposition to said jaws in order to sever the top from a can held by said jaws, means carried by said base for extending and retracting said sup port and thereby moving said cutter forcibly to the can piercing position, and means for retaining said cutter in selected positions in planes of adjustment that are at right angles to the plane in which said extensible support is adjustable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

